KEMMEL CHATEAU MILITARY CEMETERY.
Heuvelland, West-Vlanderen, Belgium.
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Joseph Scuffham.
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According to the 1901 Census Joe was aged 5 and had been born in Harker St, Skelton Green.
His Dad, age 50 in 1901, was an Ironstone miner and came from Boston, Lincolnshire to seek work and presumably met
Joe's Mam here as she was born in Whitby and was 44 at this time.
They had another seven children apart from Joe:-
Elizabeth, age 24, born in Brotton;
And seven more born in Skelton:- William 19,[Ironstone miner]. Beatrice 14, Frances S 12, Natheline 9, Annie E S 7
and Agatha S 3.
Kemmel Chateau was north-east of the village and this cemetery was started on the north side of the chateau grounds
in December 1914.
It continued to be used by divisions fighting on the southern sector of the Belgian front until
it fell into enemy hands in April 1918.
The cemetery was finally retaken later in 1918, but in the meantime had been badly damaged by shellfire and the
chateau itself destroyed.
The 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment were formed in August 1914 in Northallerton.
They became part of the 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
After landing at Boulogne on the 16th April 1915, the Division took part in most of the actions on the Western Front.
At the time of Joseph's death the Battle of the Somme was the main British offensive in France.
The 4th Yorks were defending the line opposite Kemmel, which is a French village between Ypres and Armentieres.
Joseph was killed in action in the trenches by German Trench Mortars.
